Piano-back



(No Model.)

J. W. REED.

PIANO BACK.

Patented Apr. 19,1892.

FJGL].

'NVENTOR. 52171144128862 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-BACK.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,082, dated April19, 1892.

Application filed March 11, 1891. Serial No. 384,511. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. REED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Backs; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the frame portion of upright pianos to whichthe soundingboard, piano-strings, &c., are attached and supported inproper position.

The object of the present improvement being to provide an improvedarrangement and construction of the framing parts, embodying a strongand rigid form and mode of attachment of the string-plate, a simple andefficient attachment of the sounding-board, whereby extra soundingsurface is attained, and a simple, strong, and durable attachment of thepin-block in position. I attain such object by the construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the framing part of apiano illustrating my present invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectionof the same at line a: m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section of thesame at line 0c 00, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the string-plate, of any usualconstruction so far as the openings for the passages of thesounding-board bridges and the manner of stifieir ing and strengtheningthe margins of such openings are concerned. In the present invention theplate is formed with side and bottom flanges or checks 2 and 3 to afforda wide bearing-surface to the side and bottom edges of the frame andfurnish substantial means for the outer andmarginal wooden frame 4 and5, that carry the sounding-board 6. In the present invention thismarginal frame consists of wooden side and bottom rails of the requiredsize, screwed or bolted to the flanged edges of the string-plate, asshown, the rear faces of such rails projecting backward from the rear ofthe string-plate the requisite distance, so as to form a substantialmeans for the attachment of the soundingboard 6, which is firmlyattached thereon by means of the marginal rim 7. At top the side rails aof the marginal frame projects up the proper distance to receive and aidin supporting the pin-block or wrest-plank 9 in proper position, themain support for such pin-block, however, being the socket for mation atthe back of the string-plate, near its top, which is formed by therearwardlyprojecting horizontal rib 10 on the back of the plate, onwhich the lower edge of the pinblock is supported, the face of suchpin-block resting against the back of the string-plate, as shown.

11 are the usual series of holes through the string-plate for thepassage of the tuning-pins into the pin-block or wrest-plank.

At its top the sounding-board is supported in front by the horizontalrail 12 on the back of the string-plate and at the backby the top memberof the marginal frame or rim 7 \Vith my present improvement the usualheavy wooden piano-back for supporting the sounding-board is dispensedwith, and in addition to the great lightness resulting from suchomission the present construction admits of the piano being made muchthinner and yet preserve its tone and volume, owing to the comparativelylarger-sized sounding-board and the ommis sion of the framing timbersback of the same that interfere with and break the sound in a greatmeasure. In the practical construction of the present improvement it isnot necessary that the string-plate extend up and wholly cover thepin-block, and such plate may be cut down so as to embrace and coveronly the lower front edge of the pin-block without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of a pianostring-plate, an outer marginal wooden frame secured thereto, so as toinclose the same and project rearwardly, and a sounding-board secured tothe back of the outer marginal frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of the piano string-plate having the same and project rearwardly, the soundin g-boardsecured to theouter marginal frame, and the pin-block resting upon thehorizontal I 5 flange of the string-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN W. REED. Witnessesi ROBERT BURNS, ALANSQN H. REED.

